Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Hoosiers cutting down turnovers

Indiana guard Yogi Ferrell directs his team in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois in the first round of the Big Ten Conference tournament Thursday, March 13, 2014, in Indianapolis. Illinois won 64-54. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)(Photo: Kiichiro Sato / AP)

BLOOMINGTON – Indiana's most recent youth movement has come with its share of hair-tugging frustrations, defensive issues chiefly among them.

Yet it's also come with a handful of surprises. The most important? Elimination of last season's persistent turnover problems.

Turnovers were the Hoosiers' crippling weakness in 2013-14. They canceled out the extra possessions Indiana earned with good rebounding and cut the shaky legs out from under an offense that wasn't productive enough to be so wasteful.

The offense has improved drastically — the Hoosiers (4-0) are currently ranked No. 14 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com. But that offense has been allowed to flourish by a team that's taking much better care of the ball.

"I think the difference is making easy plays," junior guard Yogi Ferrell said last week. "Coaches always harp on making the simple play."

Indiana's offensive makeover last summer centered largely around adding 3-point shooters, in theory helping IU spread opponents out and make better use of Ferrell's creativity at point guard.

That, in turn, could help ease turnover problems. Teams wouldn't be able to pack the lane and smother guards trying to drive and pass. Defenses couldn't be geared toward crowding Ferrell, trapping and harrying him into mistakes.

Through four games, it's working.

The Hoosiers have cut three turnovers off of last season's per-game average, and according to KenPom, they're turning the ball over on just 16.9 percent of their possessions. The best full-season turnover percentage a Tom Crean-coached Indiana team has ever posted: 19.1, in 2011-12. Ferrell has been a catalyst of that change, turning the ball over less often this season than last.

Story continues after video.

CLOSE

Watch and listen to Indiana basketball coach Tom Crean review of his team's 13-point win over Lamar on Saturday night.

Last season, the Hoosiers committed more than 15 turnovers per game. In their last two games, including a win over a then-ranked SMU team, they've given the ball away just 16 times total.

"To play against a team that prides themselves on defense and help and length … and only have (nine) turnovers is a major step for us," Crean said after the SMU win, in which IU only gave the ball away three times in the second half.

These are small victories for Indiana. More significant ones would come with repeat performances against better teams. Eastern Washington, Monday's opponent, likely won't be much of a test — the Eagles only force a turnover on 17.5 percent of possessions, outside the nation's top 250.

But the reduction in turnovers is still promising signs for a team that struggled to hold onto the ball against nearly everyone last season.